Improvement in metallic fence-posts



2l SheetLs-'Sheet 1.

Patented, May 13, 1 879.

A. CARY 8v T. S. BLAIR. Metallqfenoelost.

INVBNTOR:

Cf 59% BY' .J

TORNBYS.

N. PETERS, PHOTCLLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTQN. D. C.

1 24 Sheet--Sheet 2.

A'. GARY & T. S. BLAIR.

INVENTOR: JJM

ATTORNEYS..

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON D C NrrED rares PATENT f ALAN SON GARY, OF NEW YORK,`N. Y AND THOMAS S. BLAIR-0F PITTSBURG,

a PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVE M ENT .IN MzETALLI C FENCE- POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,320, dated May 13, 1879; application filed February 20, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known `thatiwe, ALANsoNGAnY, of the city, county, and State of New York, and THOMAS S. BLAIR, of Pittsburg, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have` invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to posts constructed of metal, such as wire or rods, and capable of use in connection with wire or other fences,

and for other purposes.'

The object of this invention is to arrange and combine the materials composing the post in such a manner that pressure against the post will always be opposed by the tensile strength of the materials, thereby supplying a very light but strong, substantial, and economical post, useful for fences and other purposes.

The invention will be described in connection with the drawings, and then Apointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of a portion of a fence, showing the application of our improved post. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a corner-post.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents our improved post, on' which four lines offence rails or wires, a, are shown; but the post may be constructed for holding any desired number of wires or rails. The post A is formed of a main rod or wire, shown in solid black, and smaller brace wires or rods, shown by open lines. The main wire or rod is in one piece, bent double, to forni sloping sides b, the ends forming the foot of the post being turned to form eyes c c, for the attachment of the post to wooden or stone stakes d, or other supports, as usual.

The sloping sides or wires b, instead ot' being carried straight down in the common manner, are bent inward a short distance from the ground, so that the ends cross in X form, and serve to strengthen and brace the bottom of the post. At the top of the post it is bent into an open loop, c, that is adapted to receive the top rail or fence-wire a, and this rail a is lprevented from rising by any suitable clamp,

or by twisting around it Vand the post any suitable smaller wire.

The brace rod or wire g is formed with an eye, c', for connection to the base d by the same screw or spike l) that connectsv the main rod or wire, as shown in the drawings. From this point c the brace rod or wire g extends up to the top of the X-brace, where it is twisted around the main rod at m. It then passes diagonally up to the opposite side of the post, and is there twisted at w around the main wire, as shown.

The brace rod or Wire h extends up from the eye c to the top of the Xbraces, where it is twisted around the main rod or wire, and then passes straight across. to the other side of' the post, around which it is twisted, thus forming a cross-tie brace, h', and it is also extended out laterally to form a loop or hook, 7c, that sustains the lower fence rail or wire, c. The brace rod or.wire 71I thus forms a vertical brace, a lateral tie, and a rail-support, all in one piece. 7L" is a lateral cross-tie, fastened by twisting at one end around the side rod, b, thence extending across and around the opposite side b, thence outwardly to form a support or hook, fi, to receive the second rail. h is a similar cross-tie, arranged as just described, and haw ing a hook, l, to support the third rail.

At the points where the cross-ties li h L' are placed the main rods or wires are kinked, as shown at o, to give rigidity and strength to the post by preventing the braces and ties from slipping out of place.

When wooden stakes are used in the ground as supports for the posts, which is the common method, we provide a metallic ring, E, which we sink into the top or head of the wooden stake, as shown, through which ring the spikes or screws pass. These rings serve to prevent the splitting of the heads of the stakes d, and give firmness to the supports of the fence.

In ordinary fences the posts are kept in position longitudinally by the rails and ordinary braces; hence it is only to resist pressure in he lateral direction that such posts require to be specially strengthened and braced, as I have herein described.

For corner and other posts, Where resistance of the post in all directions is required, I combine together two or more of the within-described posts into a suitable pyramidal form.

Fig. 3 shows the corner-post. The foot of each post is secured to stakes, as before described, and the parts are tied together and braced by wires g h.

The Wires or rails a of one side of the fence are held by the hooks 4i 7c l of one sideb, while rails a on the other angle of the fence are held in the hoops of the other post.

By this construction the corner-post is braced in every direction.

We do not limit or confine ourselves to the exact details of form or arrangement of any of the parts here shown, as these may be varied to suit the requirements of the construction and the purposes for which the posts are to be used Without essentially departing from our invention7 as herein explained.

Having thus described our invention, We

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A fence-post Wire, doubled and bent to form a loop at top, kinked at the points o, and having sides b b, crossed near the bottom, and made fast to supports d, in combination with the wire h, extended to form cross-ties h h"h", as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination of the rods or Wires b g h, having eyes at thebottom, the supports cl, and

the fastenings D, as and for the purpose speciied.

ALANSON CARY.

THOS. S. BLAIR.

Witnesses to the signature of Alanson Gary:

G. SEDGWIGK, J. M. HENLEY.

Witnesses to the signature of Thomas S. Blair:

C. SEDGWICK, A. G. BEACH. 

